RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-01-14	What Does It Mean That We Are Children of God? (1Jn.3:1-2)
		1Jn 3:1  Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1Jn 3:3  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Being children of God means we have been born into God's family. It is God's great love that takes the initiative to make us the children of God (v.1). We become children through faith in Jesus Christ. This is a spiritual rebirth. We are reborn, not with a physical birth, but a spiritual birth that comes from God (Jn.1:12-13; 1Jn.5:1) Joh 1:12  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: Joh 1:13  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Jesus said only the children of God experience the new birth and and will see the kingdom of God (Jn.3:3). Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” When we hear and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, we are at the moment born into God's family. And there is more. We become a child of God and joint-heir with Christ of everything in God's kingdom for all eternity (Ep.1:13-14; Ro.8:14-17). All that God has given to His Son in the kingdom belongs to us as His children, as well. Presently, we have limited knowledge of what it means to be children of God. But we do know that we will be like Him when He comes for us (1Jn.3:2). When we see Jesus face to face, our understanding of what it means to be children of God will be expanded (2Co.3:18). 2Co 3:18  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Even a partial grasp of our status as children of God will make us want to live pure and holy lives (1Jn.3:3). John continued with a challenge teaching about sin. 1Jn 3:9  Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 1Jn 3:10  In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. As the children of God, we are new creations in Christ (2Co.5:17). 2Co 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. We are led by the Holy Spirit (Ro.8:14). Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. At times we still sin. A child of God has Jesus who pleads on our behalf (1Jn.2:1). 1Jn 2:1  My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Salvation in Christ is pictured as a rebirth, and also as an adoption. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ (Ro.8:15). Rom 8:15  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” Our purpose now, as the children of God, is to develop into our full stature and uniquely become more like Jesus (Ro.8:29). Rom 8:29  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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